City's Community Development Director to Retire

After 10 years serving as the city's Director of Community Development, Katherine Hersh has announced her retirement.

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau informed the city's Board of Aldermen during Tuesday night's Budget Review Committee, after Hersh informed her staff of her decision earlier in the day.

"Kathy has been a significant value to the city of Nashua, her breadth of skills were extensive and when Kathy was passionate about something, she made them happen," Lozeau said Wednesday morning.

Lozeau said the decision to retire was not a surprise.

"Kathy's husband retired recently and she's been toying with the idea of retirement for a while," Lozeau said.

The city will be posting the job once particulars are determined, including the salary, Lozeau said.

"Our policy is for every position open we look at how we should adjust the salary, whether it's more or less or the same, using the 'Hay system'," Lozeau said.

The "Hay system" refers to a widely accepted salary and benefit grading system developed by the Hay Group consulting firm, known as the Hay Guide Chart.

Lozeau said several factors go into determining salary, but the job will post for less than proposed FY 2014 salary for that position of $113,556.

Prior to serving as Community Development director, Hersh served 10 years on the Board of Aldermen, four as vice president and two as president. Hersh also previously served as a member of the Nashua Conservation Commission.

About Hersh, From the city's website:

Ms. Hersh is the Director of the City of Nashua’s Community Development Division. She has over 18 years of professional experience in numerous aspects of urban community planning. In her various professional, volunteer and political roles for the past 23 years, she has been a leader in initiating and promoting community development projects and programs that make Nashua a more livable and sustainable community.

During Ms. Hersh’s nine-year tenure as Director, the City has updated the City-wide Master Plan and the Downtown Master Plan, and has adopted the first East Hollis Street Master Plan. Ms. Hersh initiated the City’s Brownfields Program, and has competitively secured over $11 million in funds, not including annual federal allocations, such as CDBG and federal transit funds. She was instrumental in the passage of Nashua’s first tax increment financing district. 

Ms. Hersh currently sits on the NH Rail Transit Authority as the mayor’s designee serving as its vice-chair and serves on the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. She has served on other various boards and commissions, including the Society for the Protection of NH Forests and the Nashua River Watershed Association. 

Ms. Hersh’s previous professional experience includes working for a non-profit, Merrimack River Watershed Council; a municipality, Office of Economic Development in the City of Lawrence, MA; and for a for-profit corporation, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. 

Previous to her current position, Ms. Hersh served for 10 years on the Board of Aldermen, four of which as vice president and the last two as president. Ms. Hersh previously served as a member of the Nashua Conservation Commission.